shifted_logs | The Seventh Match

Entry tags:

The Seventh Match

Characters: Gene, Diva, Spectators
Location: The Coliseum.
Time: Two days after the last fights.
Summary: The seventh of the death matches.
Warnings: Character death warning.

Today, Weber had let in a visitor early. With his coffee cup balanced on the seat between them, he was all smooth smiles, a performance designed for one.

The Doctor wasn't happy with Weber, but his conversation with Ten reminded him that he still owed the man a cup of coffee. So he brought him one, and got right down to business. "Tried to find the Emperor, but he never showed up. Any tips? Or are you gonna point a revolver at my head for interfering?"

Weber startled. He almost dropped his cup. Then he drew his revolver, not to point it at the Doctor, but to aim for the head of the man in sable robes who had appeared behind the Doctor, the one known to Naminé merely as the king. Weber got to his feet. “My liege.”

The king returned the smile. “My liar.”

Weber’s gun hand was severed from his wrist in the flash of the king’s sword. Silver blood fell from the wound, but Weber didn’t hesitate. He was forward in a moment, his other hand swinging up for the king's face, but the king caught that and twisted, forcing Weber to the ground.

“Oh, your most glorious majesty.” There was no stopping Weber’s smile, even as he cradled his injured arm to his chest. “How the sight of you brings me to my knees.”

“Were it that you would learn your place there.” With Weber now held down, the king offered the Doctor a brief flicker of his attention. “Another victim, my liar?”

The Doctor rose from his seat—no, the Oncoming Storm rose from his seat. "Let him go. I'm nobody's victim, and neither is he." He stepped forward, placing a hand on Weber's shoulder. "This ends now, your Majesty. I gave you a chance, and you've lost it."

“Doctor, don’t—”

Weber’s shout was pointless. In a gesture too easy and too familiar, the king shoved his sword through the Doctor’s chest and twisted.

The Doctor gasped, both in surprise and pain. His jumper was stained with blood as he collapsed to the ground, and he knew he was dying again. "Time to be a real boy, Pinocchio," he whispered, only for Weber to hear.

The two immortals watched the Doctor die. Then the king drew a card from his robes. As the Doctor's body dissolved into nothing, so too did a gold bracelet on the king's wrist. He drew out another card. One of his gold rings thinned, almost imperceptible to anyone at a distance. The king released Weber and offered him his hand.

And Weber, with his now-regrown hand, took it, sweeping his fallen hat up from the floor and putting it back on his head. “The fight, my liege?”

“Of course.” The king took the Emperor's throne with the arrogance of born royalty. Obedient, the man in the silver-stained cravat sat at his king's side. They were decadence and dissonance, gold jewellery and black fabrics, one's clothing from the West, the other from the East. They had held thrones like these so many times before, and each fell easily into the familiar parts.

The king waved a callous hand. “Gene Hunt.”

Weber gave a sad smile. “Diva.”

The king said, “Get on with it.”

The sand in the hourglass fell, unable to reach the black and silver blood lingering beneath its frame.

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Diva paused, looking down at her cup. Gene would find sandwiches (since it was the only thing Diva could make herself, really) inside, but Diva was quiet as he rifled through.

"I know," she said after the pause, "and that's why I try to take him out to do things with me. He was always uncomfortable, though, since it was too..." Diva paused again, but this time she was reaching for a word to describe the parties. "...Too...rich, I guess? I don't know, since I'd never really gone to any other kind of party."

She took another sip. "Do you regret it, by the way? I mean, shooting me that much."

Pulling out a sandwich (really, Diva?), Gene took a bite, chewing thoughtfully. "Not the lifestyle for a copper, luv," he offered. "That's for fops and poofs and the scum who try and run my streets. A good copper don't need any of that and Tyler's the best there is."

He frowned at her question, polishing off the sandwich and taking another swig. "Only that I didn't have another clip. What you did deserved more than I gave and you know it." Gene looked her over, imperious and silent a moment. "Did you even feel it?"

A smile came to her lips on Sam's behalf. Diva had a feeling he wouldn't need that much reassurance that he was a good policeman, but it made her feel oddly at ease. But the smile fell quickly.

"I felt every single one. You shouldn't have to ask that," she said quietly. It seemed like she wouldn't continue with the conversation, but after a silence, continued, "I don't know what it feels like for normal people, because I've never been normal, but I've been dying ever since I can remember. And it's the worst thing, because when I die, it's painful until I just---Everything is gone. So for however long it takes for me to come back, it's like time is just stopped, but I never know it until I come back, and that hurts too. But because I spent fifty years stuck in a tower where I was always dying, I can block it out and pretend it doesn't happen. Because, you know, when I would scream, they would just gag me or take out my vocal cords and wait for them to grow back. It always hurts, but it's not the same for me as it is for Saya. Because when Saya would get cut by my Chevalier, she would scream so loudly, and I wondered why, because I only thought it was okay to scream when something really terrible was happening, like when your legs are broken or when you're being hurt so much that your body can't keep up with healing it."

Diva laughed and smiled like it was a fond memory. "I feel everything. But they're not worth talking about, since it doesn't really matter for me, does it? That's what Amshel made me believe. If I had to kill people I liked or let people that Amshel wanted to impress do whatever they wanted with me for a night, it was fine because it'd always be fine because there aren't any marks by the time it's over. I don't need to cry or be upset about things like that, because even if I can feel it, they're not there."

She finished off her beer, looking at Gene coolly. She had lived a hard, terrible life, but she had no problem admitting any of it because of what she had just described. What she felt didn't matter as long as other people were satisfied.

"That's why Sam is so important to me. He didn't want anything from me. He was the first person to really, truly care about what I felt."

For once, Gene remained silent while Diva spoke, taking in her story with a stony expression. There'd been a reason he hated Amshel more than the vampire, no matter how much death Diva wrought. If it weren't for that bastard, maybe the broad would have turned out decently. Or at least more like a normal bird than she had.

Knowing the sort of pain she'd gone through didn't make up for the deaths she'd caused, though, and while Gene now had a better sense of what Diva physically felt, it didn't mean shit if she didn't understand how others did.

"That's not what I meant, luv," he finally offered, pulling out a fag and lighting it with a flick of his wrist, slipping the zippo back into his pocket a moment later. "You hurt when I shot you. You have any idea how much it hurt those blokes you offed? You feel anything at all when you killed 'em, or is it still just a game to you?"

She was flustered that she had misinterpreted what he said so badly. Her hands came to cover her face and she stammered in embarrassment briefly before settling back into the conversation.

"I...I know it did. And it hurts so many more people than me. I didn't really want to believe that for a while, but it..."

Her hands fell from her face to her lap, and she settled into the routine of topping off both of their drinks. Diva was the hostess, gracious and lady-like, just as she had been taught. It contrasted greatly against the nature of their conversation.

"I don't know a lot of their names, the people I killed. Ne, but one of them, I'll never forget. Thomas Davis had a wife and a baby girl, and they were both so beautiful. Ne, I know that because after it happened, I saw her. She was yelling and screaming at me, saying things like how she hoped that I suffered and died for what I did, but that wasn't anything I hadn't heard before. It was when she just started crying, right there, like she was hurting so much. I don't think I could forget that if I wanted to. It hurt, to see that. No matter what I did, I'd never really seen anything like that before."

Gene wasn't one for heavy conversation and this one had reached his weight limit with Diva's addendum. It was enough to hear her say it, even if the Guv didn't necessarily believe she fully understand what she'd done. But it was a start, and compared to the broad he'd first met, it was a completely different person sitting here pouring him a pint of Party Four like they were at tea with the Queen.

Pulling out his gun, Gene looked the revolver over, checking the chamber, then casually leaned over and pressed the barrel to Diva's chest. He made sure to look her in the eye, expression grim, before tilting the gun up and tapping her lightly on the chin.

"Just don't let me catch you doing it again," he said, raising his cup with his free hand and taking a drink before tossing the gun off to the side on the blanket. "And I told you we'd need Party Seven."

She couldn't help a slight intake of breath when the gun was pressed to her chest. Diva didn't tense up or try to move, again perfectly willing to let Gene shoot her. But when he tapped her chin, she reached up and touched the spot lightly in surprise. She stared for a moment, but...Diva couldn't help but laugh.

"Ne, Gene, don't scare me like that! I'd definitely be mad if you ruined this dress," she said with a laugh. It was a relief that he hadn't, since she understood the gesture as Gene's trust. Considering she had only guessed that she had some of it, it made her happy, in an odd way.

So she took a sip of her beer, smiling over the edge of the glass. "I'm so sorry, then, Gene. It's not my fault that you drink like a pig."

"Bet it'd make it look nicer," he joked, tipping back his glass for a long swallow. "Never did get the point in fancy clothes. The wife likes 'em, too. Bloody waste of money if you ask me."

Diva bantered back and Gene snorted. "How else does one show appreciation for the finer things in life, luv?"

"Well, what other finer things I going to spend my money on? Food? It's fun to look nice, especially since other people tend to like it a lot. Especially on me, of course."

Diva was not well renowned for her modesty.

A good thing Gene didn't regard her as all that attractive. Well, consciously. "Your taste in boyfriends could use a once-over. Try spending it on that."

She smiled coyly. "Oh, like I need to buy a boyfriend, Gene. I can walk into a club and pick up any boy I like."

Diva tilted her head slightly, laughing behind her fingertips. It was very true, and slightly ironic in that they were the ones that would buy her anything she wanted if she asked. She had that effect on men. Not all of them, of course, but enough.

"Oh, but do you really think my taste is that bad? The only boy that I want is Sam."

Gene gave her a long, hard look. "That's the point," he said. "You could do better than a tosser like him. Div don't know jack about birds."

"Oh, Sam's not that bad," she whined, "Sam is a wonderful gentleman! He knows exactly how to treat a woman."

Though, thinking about it, he was oblivious in certain areas that were of particular interest to Diva. Specifically, the areas that made her jump from "boyfriend" to "boyfriend" on the side. She was emotionally faithful, at the very least?

After a pause, she added, "Well, he's not perfect, but that's fine. He's certainly not a...Oh, what's the word--a playboy, is it?"

He couldn't help himself; Gene snorted. And loudly. "Sure he does."

The idea of Sam Tyler as some sort of dandy was enough to make Gene honestly consider not finishing his alcohol. Or possibly consuming it faster. He wasn't sure which would serve his constitution better at the thought. Probably being drunk. It would have the added benefit of making their last moments alive go by faster, as well.

"If I hadn't found Tyler cuffed to his bed with his trousers on the floor, I'd think he'd never seen the underside of a bird's skirt, but seeing as he got himself trussed up like a Christmas turkey, he's at least got that going for him." Gene took a swig. "But no. He's certainly not randy, the sod."

She spluttered as she was taking a sip of her drink and coughed. Diva hadn't expected to hear about that, of all things, though she did know about it.

"Th-That isn't the point! And don't you think Sam wouldn't like you telling that to other people?" Of course he wouldn't, she knew. But it was Gene.

Of course, she did wish that he was a little more...into the relationship that they had. As odd as it was. It was a little disappointing that with all of her sexual prowess that she couldn't grab the one person she really wanted. Oh, well. She could be patient. Sometimes.

"He is weird about that, though. I mean, he's had plenty of chances, but--" She sighed. "Sam wouldn't take any of them."

"I don't want to hear about what Tyler gets up to involving knickers," Gene cut in, looking somewhat amused and disgusted all at once. Seeing Sam without his trousers once had been enough, thank you. Gene didn't need any reminders (unless he was the one poking fun). "And I don't want to hear about your knickers, either. Bad enough Skelton tries talking about it. At least his stories make me randy."

There. If she could offer too much information, so could he. Not that Gene had any scruples, of course.

"...Oh, no, did he tell you about that? I told Ray that he couldn't share with anyone else!"

Her face was turning red, since she had misunderstood. After all, she had told Ray stories of that nature and wasn't actually that surprised that he had decided to pass them along to Chris. But she didn't expect Chris to tell Gene! If he had, anyways.

"The hell are you talking about?" Gene just stared at the girl across from him, seriously reconsidering the amount of booze he'd drank. He was beginning to feel sick. Maybe having time run out on them wouldn't be so bad after all. "What're you doing talking to Carling?"

She waved her hand quickly, as if to brush the point of conversation away.

"It's nothing! Really, nothing at all, I just misunderstood what you meant." A beat. "And what do you mean? I can talk to whoever I want! Ray is nice to me and so is Chris."

He ignored her attempts to ignore his question, leaning forward.

"The only reason Ray would give a bird the time of day is because he intended on getting in her knickers come nightfall or she was needed for questioning. Wouldn't put it past the bloke to combine the two if he bloody well could." A pause, likewise, for Gene. "When did you start getting cozy with my CID?"

Diva paused for a moment, thinking about how silly this conversation was. She didn't just mean the misunderstandings about what she had or hadn't told CID, but just their whole, bizarre picnic. Some people might be concerned over that, but Diva just leaned forward in return as her lips turned down into a pouting frown.

"I don't think it's much of your business! I can be friends with who I want," she said half-sourly. But, the first sentence was true. Sam had said that to her not long after she had met Ray, and they were both right. Even if it had been to pacify the albino twins that had been on the Plane, she had slept with Ray.

Might as well make Gene mad while she had the chance.

"You are right about Ray, though, I'll admit. But I only did it because Ray was being stupid and wouldn't just give me the knife. You remember those twins, the really pale ones? Ray took a knife of their's, and the reason that they attacked Chris and Ray was because he wouldn't give it back! They said that if I got that knife for them, they wouldn't bother CID anymore."

Yeah, okay. Gene need more alcohol, nevermind feeling ill. He grabbed the tin of Party Four and poured out another pint, downing it quickly. "You. Boffed Ray." Definitely needed more alcohol. "Christ, you slept with Ray."

Death could not come soon enough.

"No, Diva, you can't be friends with whoever, because you bloody slept with my DS." Maybe it was a disjointed sense of entitlement when it came to his team, or perhaps misplaced protectiveness of Diva herself, but Gene was not taking this news well. If only he hadn't set his gun down, he could at least shoot himself in the head and purge the memory of what she'd told him. "Is it at all possible for you to keep your sodding knickers on?"

Now she was verging on exasperation. "Why does everyone get mad about that?! It's not like it matters."

She knew that it did, in a way, but how she understood it was flawed. It wasn't like Diva had exactly been comfortable with the situation, but it was what she had to do to get the knife and protect (Sam) CID. It was one of the only things she had to barter, and considering her unusual biology, it was of no consequence to do so.

"Ne, I knew I shouldn't have told you that! Now you won't ever leave me alone for it. Sam was already upset enough, thank you!"

"Opening your legs for any bloke who comes 'round matters plenty, Diva. What do you think street girls are? What do you think happens to them after some bastard's had his way with her and she's not worth the money he's s'posed to give her?" Gene jabbed a finger at Diva's chest. "Not to mention it's disgusting that you'd shack up with Ray when you say you want Tyler. No wonder he won't sleep with you. Why would any bloke want someone who isn't faithful?"

"I--I would never have sex for money!" she said angrily halfway through, but went quiet when Sam was brought up. Diva looked genuinely surprised.

"It's...not like that, though! Sam said--" Diva broke off. Sam had always stepped around the issue when it was brought up or even remotely hinted at. And now she was unsure, so she looked down and away from Gene.

She started again quietly. "Sam didn't say anything. I would be faithful, if he...ever wanted that. Is that something that he would want, do you think?"

The Seventh Match

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